Search NEL Online

Comparative Study 2006; 27(Suppl 2): 112-115 PubMed PMID: 17159793 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, DNA Damage, Diet, Female, Fruit, Humans, Male, Malondialdehyde:blood, Middle Aged, Mineral Fibers:toxicity, Occupational Diseases:prevention & control, Oxidative Stress, Vegetables, Vitamins:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: In humans, epidemiological evidence suggests that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables can substantially enhance the protection against many common types of cancer.

METHODS & RESULTS: A molecular epidemiological study in 3 Slovak factories producing asbestos, glass fibres and rockwool was conducted. Altogether 388 subjects (239 exposed, 148 controls) were investigated. Food frequency questionnaire was used to ascertain nutrient intake and compared to plasma levels of selected micronutrients, as well as to markers of oxidative stress (MDA, oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair) and antioxidant protection. We found a negative correlation between MDA concentrations and consumption of fruits (p=0.05) and vegetables (p=0.05) in all control subjects. Intake of fruits (p=0.05), vegetables (p=0.01), milk (p=0.01) and cereals (p=0.05) inversely correlated with oxidative DNA damage (net FPG) in all subjects investigated. There was a negative correlation between the intake of fruits (p=0.05) and vegetables (p=0.01) in all exposed subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that well balanced food consumption with higher fruits and vegetables intake has a protective effect against oxidative damage....

Read abstract

Comparative Study 2006; 27(5): 651-657 PubMed PMID: 17159815 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alcoholic Beverages:statistics & numerical data, Alcoholism:epidemiology, Biomarkers:analysis, Comorbidity, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders:epidemiology, Middle Aged, Psychological Tests, Social Class,.   

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that early-onset alcoholism can be differentiated from alcoholism in the elderly by more severe substance related problems, more frequent family history, higher mortality rate, and antisocial behaviour.

METHODS: 73 elderly (E) alcoholics (mean age 70.2 yrs) were compared with 90 young (Y) alcoholics (mean age 43.9 yrs) and 70 elderly non alcoholics (mean age 76 yrs). We focused on, family history (FH), co morbidity, mortality, biological markers (AST, GGT, MCV), and demographics. Geriatric Scale of Depression, Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination and Munich Alkoholism Test were also used. All results analysed by the SPSS.

RESULTS: FH was significantly (p<0.001) more often positive in Y (52%) than in E (15%) and C (10%). Significantly (p<0.001) more E (57.5%) are married than Y (37.8%) and C (21.4%), significantly (p<0.001) more E (72. 6%) has elementary education compared with Y (44.4%). E alcoholics abstain significantly (p<0.001) more (>27 months) than Y ones (approximately 11 months). Significantly (p<0.001) more Y (43%) had forensic history than E (8.2%). Significantly (p<0.01) more death rate was found in E (19.2%) than in Y (5.6%) and C (1.4%). Significantly (p<0.01) more E (61%) prefer spirits than Y (21%), but significantly more Y (>63%) combine spirits with beer and wine than E (>32%). Significantly (p<0.001) more alcoholics (E and Y) had elated levels of MCV (>70%), AST and GGT (>60%) than C. We have found significantly (p<0.001) higher rate of comorbidity of CNS diseases, GIT, injuries, haematological and infectious diseases in the groups of elderly and young alcoholics than in C subjects. On the other hand, prevalence of cardiovascular, ORL, ophtalmological, endocrine and orthopedic diseases were significantly (p<0.01) higher in C. To compare elderly patients with young ones, we found significantly (p<0.01) higher rate of respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular and CNS diseases, and dementia in E alcoholics (p<0.001). Depression and abuse of prescribed medication was significantly (p<0.01) more often in the C, but suicide attempts, neurotic spectrum disorders and personality disorders were significantly (p<0.01) often in group of Y.

CONCLUSION: Young alcoholics have significantly more often positive FH, drink significantly bigger amounts of alcohol, have more forensic history, and personality disorders in comparison to elderly ones. On the other hand elderly alcoholics tend to have more somatic complication due to alcohol abuse, but drink less alcohol, tend to abstain longer, and have less psychopathic traits. In contrast to literature, the majority of elderly alcoholics are married, have low education and do not belong to high social classes....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 535-537 PubMed PMID: 17136019 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease:complications, Cognition Disorders:etiology, Depression:etiology, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism:complications, Male, Middle Aged, Thyroxine:blood,.   

: The role of thyroid function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been subject to a number of studies during the last years. We investigated the possible relationship between plasma levels of the biologically active free form of thyroxin (fT4) and cognitive function in 227 outpatients with mild to moderate Alzheimer s disease (AD) in a cross-sectional study design. A significant negative correlation was found between plasma fT4-levels and Mini-Mental state examination (MMSE) score (Spearman Rho = -0.14, p=0.04). When the lowest quartile of fT4-levels (<15.1 pmol/l) was compared to the highest quartile (>19.0 pmol/l), statistically significant lower mean MMSE-scores were seen in the group with the highest fT4-levels (p<0.05, ANOVA). The mean difference between the 1st and the 4th quartile of fT4 was 2.6 MMSE-score points. No correlations were found between plasma total T4-levels, plasma total T3-levels, plasma TSH-levels and the MMSE score (p>0.05). When fT4 quartile groups were compared for depression measured in the Geriatric Depression Score (GDS 15), a slightly higher score was seen in the 1s and 2nd compared to the 3rd and 4th quartile groups without reaching statistical significance (1st quartile of fT4: GDS 5.2 +/- 3.8; 2nd: 5.3 +/- 4.0; 3rd: 4.4 +/- 3.4; 4th: 4.5 +/- 3.8) pointing to a reverse correlation of fT4 levels and depressive mood. This study leads to the conclusion that high levels of plasma fT4 might result in a worsening of cognitive impairment and a positive effect on depressive mood in AD....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 517-522 PubMed PMID: 16892003 Citation  Keywords:  Adenocarcinoma:metabolism, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibody Specificity, Cell Nucleus:metabolism, Cytoplasm:metabolism, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Prostate:metabolism, Prostatic Hyperplasia:metabolism, Prostatic Neoplasms.   

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin is a low molecular weight protein which has been detected in a variety of normal and cancerous tissues. It is involved in many regulatory processes including protein proteolysis. It has been implicated in tumor pathogenesis. The role of ubiquitin in human prostate gland is investigated in this study.

METHODS: In this study, we utilized immunohistochemistry technique to localize ubiquitin in human prostate gland and correlate it with different pathological conditions of the prostate.

RESULTS: Ubiquitin was localized in normal, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma with variations in the distribution and intensity. In BPH, ubiquitin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in the nuclei while in the adenocarcinoma was localized mainly in the cytoplasm.

CONCLUSION: The presence of ubiquitin mainly in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm of BPH and prostatic adenocarcinoma, respectively, may suggest a role of ubiquitin in the development of the above mentioned conditions. Ubiquitin could be used as a potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of pathological conditions of the prostate....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 445-452 PubMed PMID: 16891997 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:immunology, Antioxidants:metabolism, Carcinogens:pharmacology, Circadian Rhythm:immunology, Female, Flow Cytometry, Granulocytes:drug effects, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Monocytes:drug effects, Oxidat.   

OBJECTIVES: In the present paper the circadian variation and age differences in human leukocyte reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and plasma total antioxidant status were studied. Different ROS levels could influence disease during ageing and at different times of the day/night.

METHODS: Unstimulated and stimulated (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) blood samples were analysed by flow cytometry using dihydroethidium (DHE) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) as probes. 60 healthy individuals were divided into five equal groups ((I) 1-2 days post partum, (II) 20 +/- 2 years, (III) 40 +/- 2 years, (IV) 60 +/- 2 years and (V) 80 +/- 2 years) and 6 healthy volunteers were followed with blood samples at 3 hour intervals for 24 hours.

RESULTS: We observed a significant peak of ROS levels in both monocytes and granulocytes at 6 pm and 3 am using DHE as probe. DHR showed in principle the same pattern. The monocytes (unstimulated and stimulated) and unstimulated granulocytes of the newborn group showed higher ROS values than all the other groups, whereas the groups of adults did not differ from each other. The plasma total antioxidant status was significantly higher in the newborn group and showed no circadian variation.

CONCLUSIONS: The present data show that there is a circadian variation of ROS production in leukocytes that might possibly influence the occurrence of cardiovascular incidents like myocardial infarction. No increase in ROS production was found in healthy elderly compared to younger individuals. The increased ROS levels and antioxidant status of newborns might influence neonate immunity and play a part in cell signalling and development....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Comparative Study 2006; 27(4): 493-500 PubMed PMID: 16891987 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adipose Tissue:metabolism, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:metabolism, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Cholesterol, HDL:blood, Cholesterol, LDL:blood, Energy Metabolism:physiology, Female, Humans, Insulin:metabolism, Insulin Resi.   

OBJECTIVES: Adipose tissue secretes proteins which regulate energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin possesses anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and insulin-sensitizing properties. To assess the prognostic factors in prolonged survival and the potential protective role of adiponectin in aging, we examined the release of adiponectin in relation to the metabolic status of centenarians, compared with young, early elderly and obese subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 122 women: 22 centenarians aged 100-102 yrs, 45 younger women aged 20-43 yrs, 19 early elderly women aged 64-67 yrs, and 36 obese women aged 26-54 yrs. Anthropometric data, clinical features and blood samples were obtained. Plasma adiponectin and insulin concentrations were measured by RIA methods. Fasting plasma glucose levels, lipid profile and creatinine concentrations were determined using routine laboratory procedures.

RESULTS: In centenarians we found that adiponectin concentrations were significantly increased, compared with young, early elderly and obese women. Insulin concentrations were lower than those in young and obese subjects. HOMA-IR was significantly lower than in obese women. Positive correlations were found between adiponectin and HDL, and negative correlations between adiponectin and HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, blood pressure and BMI.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that adiponectin may play a protective role that contributes to longevity....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(3): 345-349 PubMed PMID: 16816835 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, RNA, Messenger:analysis, Receptor, Endothelin A:genetics, Receptor, Endothelin B:genetics, Reference Values, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Tissue Distribu.   

OBJECTIVES: Endothelin is a potent peptide mediator that is synthesized by a number of cells. Previous studies have revealed the occurrence of endothelin in nerve cell bodies of some peripheral ganglia. Endothelin mediates its effects via two distinct receptor subtypes ETA and ETB. The present study was designed to investigate the presence of these two receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion.

METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to show the presence of mRNA encoding ETA and ETB receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion. To localize the protein immunocytochemistry with antibodies against the endothelin receptors was used.

RESULTS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed mRNA for both receptor subtypes in the human trigeminal ganglion. Immunocytochemistry revealed numerous cell bodies containing the ETA and the ETB receptor proteins.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of ETA and ETB receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion suggests a role for endothelin in autonomic and sensory neural transmission....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 16-20 PubMed PMID: 16648779 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anticonvulsants:therapeutic use, Brain:pathology, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Secondary Prevention, Seizures:drug therapy, Social Environment,.   

: Patients experiencing solitary unprovoked epileptic seizure have different risks of recurrence. The possible risk factors include in particular: structural cerebral lesion and its cause, history of febrile seizures, family history of epilepsy, the type of seizure, epileptiform EEG discharges and the problem of initiation or (or not initiation) of antiepileptic treatment after the first paroxysm. The factors shown above were evaluated in a group of 30 patients with solitary unprovoked epileptic seizure. Regarding recurrence of epileptic seizure, the only significant factor appeared to be initiation of treatment after the first unprovoked paroxysm (p<0.001). We observed a 30% and 33.33% risk of recurrence following the initial epileptic seizure in patients after the first unprovoked seizure in less than 1 and 3 years, respectively....

Read abstract